Ever since I moved to Cumming, Georgia almost four years ago, I haven't made it over to the Buford area as often as I would like...which is crazy since it's only about a 20 minute drive. So when I dropped off my paintings at Tannery Row Artist Colony for the Spring Juried Exhibition, I was amazed at all of the new shops, restaurants and construction that had recently sprung up. Tannery Row is a really cool place itself; the historic building was once a leather factory that was built soon after the Civil War. Today, it's home to a restaurant, auction house and one of the friendliest galleries I ..read more

This past summer I participated in a really interesting workshop on intuitive painting at Spruill Center for the Arts. It has definitely impacted the way I've been approaching my art lately so I thought I would share a little about my experience. When I first signed up for the class I thought, "Hey, I could use a cool new painting for my dining room. Maybe I can create something that will match my chairs." Within about 60 seconds of the class starting, my little plan was crushed. We were given two rules - the first was to paint with no goal in mind. We had to scrap any pre-conceived plans, co ..read more

What’s on your bucket list? Have you checked anything off lately? As an artist, “Painting in France” has been on mine for quite a while and I officially checked it off after traveling to Noyers-sur-Serein earlier this month. This tiny village is about 2 hours southeast of Paris in the Bourgogne (Burgundy) wine region and was built during medieval times. As we pulled through the city gate, I felt like I was stepping back several centuries. What brought me to Noyers? I spent a wonderful week taking part in an artist residency program at La Porte Peinte where I painted daily with 8 other students ..read more

It may sound weird, but, I know how much joy painting has brought me over the years, and recently, I've felt lead to teach others who want to learn how to paint. This past fall I had the pleasure of hosting my first painting workshop at the Sawnee Arts Center in Cumming, GA. The workshop was a one day Acrylics "Crash Course" that was designed for the new artist or the artist who had been out of the game for a while. I wanted to dig in a little deeper than the basic "wine and canvas" type classes and give students the "why" and "how" of painting. The goal was for them to walk out of the class ..read more

Over the last several years, I've found myself becoming obsessed with vintage style. I love scouting local antique shops and flea markets for one-of-a-kind treasures that aren't only beautiful but also have a story. If you've followed my work, you may recall this obsession led to a vintage frame collection that I often use as a finishing touch for some of my paintings. However, my most recent discovery came about when I visited my family in Macon a couple of months ago. While I was in town, I stopped by one of my favorite antique malls and found a stash of vintage sheet music that ranged in d ..read more

Sometimes clients find a piece of art that they love, but then question if it will work for their space. I always tell them that if you truly love it you will find a way to make it work in your home. However, I know it's not always as straightforward as that. Tricky situations can come up like a formal room with lots of architectural details, or maybe the room a gorgeous coastal view and demands art that compliments the setting. Sometimes you need an expert eye to steer you in the right direction I recently spoke with designer Brittany Zimmerman of ,Bleu Bee Designs for my interview series "W ..read more

2020 has been just a liiiiiiitle bit stressful. Am I right? I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, I eat more, drink more wine than I should, and I don’t get a good night’s sleep. I recently started working with a wellness coach, and by tracking different areas, I’ve seen how our emotional well being plays sort of a “domino effect” on the other areas of our lives. She encouraged me to come up with a de-stress activity to ease anxiety so I developed an art journal exercise. I have to say, I've noticed a tremendous difference since I started my art journal. I thought it could help other ..read more

For the past three years I've participated in the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge started by California artist Leslie Saeta. This marks the 8th year that artists from around the globe have committed to creating a new painting each day for 30 straight days. The last two years that I've started the challenge, I was all gung-ho! I couldn't wait to have 30 brand spankin' new paintings lined-up around my studio. However, it never failed that around the 2 week point, reality sets in, life happens, and realistically end up with around 15-18 pieces. It's easy to get hung up on the number, however ..read more

https://youtu.be/_sQ4WHfwEgM ,Enchanted: 1) placed under a spell; bewitched. 2) filled with delight; charmed. Have you noticed that the moment we can't have something is when we tend to miss it the most? Take for example the winter season and how it momentarily suppresses life; cold temperatures drive animals to hibernate or migrate and wipes away plant life. It's only after a few months of "deadness" that I truly appreciate the liveliness that I took for granted. I think that's why spring is my favorite season because I feel a deep appreciation for the energy that I missed and catch myself me ..read more

Hey guys, remember me? Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post. Apologies are definitely in order since I hate being away from here this long. However, this summer I had the opportunity to take part in two fun events that I know you, my fellow Atlanta art lovers, will want to know about. Marietta and Roswell each host a local art walk where their galleries stay open late and the streets are overflowing with creative vibes. Both events take place on the first Friday night of each month so it may be hard to choose between the two, but I promise, you can't go wrong with either one. Marie ..read more